And finally tonight, our "person of the week." 30 years ago, a wide-eyed bespectacled little boy became a member of the american family at christmas. Well, tonight, he is back, with a present for everyone. Abc's david muir. Reporter: The movie "a christmas story" came out in 1983. Few went to see it at the time, but tens of mfls have been watching it ever since. A cult favorite on cable. All about a boy named ralphie and his one wish for christmas. There it is! The holy grail of christmas gifts. Reporter: Ralphie, so determined to get that red ryder bb gun, if only he could convince his parents. I want an official red ryder air rifle. No. You'll shoot your eye out. Reporter:30 years later, and ralphie is still trying. This time, on broadway and backstage, we meet the boy chosen to play ralphie now. I'm guessing you're ralphie. It turns out the new ralphie grew up watching the original one. Did you ever think that you'd be playing ralphie? No. ♪ I'll save the day ♪ the thing about ralphie is everyone remembers when they were 9, 10, my age. And when you want something for christmas, like, you do everything to get it. Reporter: This is what ralphie dreams of. Yeah, what he dreams of. The red ryder carbonitebb gun. Reporter: The producer might look far. Peter billingsley, the first to ask for that bb gun. You'll shoot your eye out, kid. One of the first real portrayals of a family that we had seen. For so many families, at the holidays, it's the simplest things that can drive you the most crazy. Trying to get a tree, get your son dressed to go out in the cold. Wanting of that one gift that means the world to you. The movies had a lot of significance, obviously, in my life. Reporter: Did you ever want a bb gun? I actually got one last year. Reporter: Did you get the actual -- yes. Come back! Come back! The bell rang. Reporter: The facial expressions from ralphie in that movie say it all. Yes, the smile, everything, yes. Reporter: Do you have it? The smile? I think so. Reporter: Let me see. See the show. Reporter: See the show. Outside, the lines to see that show, to see ralphie and his one christmas wish. The same one peter billingsley had all those years ago, as ralphie, in a family that struck a christmas chord. Most people have said, either, that's my dad, that's my mom or that was me. And so we choose ralphie, past and present.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

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